CCTV Film Released of British Man Stealing $500,000 Viola [VIDEO]

CCTV footage has today been released, by the British Transport Police, of convicted thief Stephen Tillyer stealing a £300,000 (US $470,000) viola – mistakenly left on a train by London Symphony Orchestra violist Edward Vanderpar, in January of 2014.

Tillyer, 49 was last month convicted of the theft and was handed a six-month suspended jail sentence.

“This is a mistake. I haven’t stolen anything. I picked something up on the train,” he allegedly told arresting officers at the time.

BRITISH TRANSPORT POLICE | STEPHEN TILLYER | CAUGHT STEALING £300,000 VIOLA

The jury heard a statement, from the London Symphony violist that he was napping on the commute from London to Dover Priory - then accidentally left the carriage without the 16th Century instrument.

Yesterday security CCTV footage was also released of a woman stealing a violin from a Canadian music store.

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Man On Trial for Stealing $500,000 Viola From London Train